MAGNERS LEAGUE
Venue: Musgrave Park Date: 10 January Kick-off: 1700 GMT
Coverage: Live on S4C, updates on BBC Sport website, highlights on Sunday's Scrum V

Rhys Priestland moves to fly-half from full-back

Munster's Magners League clash with the Scarlets will be played at Musgrave Park, providing it survives the freeze.

Both Mugrave Park and alternative venue Thomond Park face pitch inspections at 1730 GMT on Saturday.

Munster are close to full strength with John Hayes their only frontline player rested for the fixture.

Stephen Jones' shoulder injury means that Rhys Priestland moves to fly-half from full-back for the Scarlets, Daniel Evans returning to the 15 jersey.

Scrum-half Martin Roberts returns at scrum-half, while Morgan Stoddart is fit enough to be named on the bench.

Damian Welch comes in for his third start of the season at lock for Lou Reed, who moves to the replacements' bench.

The Scarlets are without British and Irish Lions pair Jones and Matthew Rees, plus prop Iestyn Thomas, although the trio could be back next week for the Heineken Cup.

Regan King, Simon Easterby, Dafydd Jones, Mark Jones, Rhys Thomas and Tavis Knoyle remain sidelined, with Josh Turnbull banned.

With prop Marcus Horan still not fully fit, Munster's front row will feature Wian Du Preez, Denis Fogarty and Tony Buckley.

The pack also includes captain Paul O'Connell, Donncha O'Callaghan, David Wallace and Alan Quinlan although Denis Leamy remains out because of injury.

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Tomas O'Leary and Ronan O'Gara return at half-back while the backline also includes Jean de Villiers, Keith Earls, Paul Warwick, Doug Howlett and Denis Hurley.

Scarlets coach Nigel Davies says they are ready for the challenge of Heineken Cup qualification ahead of the Munster game.

"With only three Welsh sides qualifying for Europe, it's going to be an interesting couple of months," Davies said.

"It will be great for the league in the long term, make it really competitive."

The Scarlets' hard-fought 9-14 win at the Dragons was their first away league win of the season, but they remain the lowest-placed of the Welsh regions.

"We'll need to show that same kind of focus and spirit a couple more times and I'm sure this league will down to the wire," said Davies.

Munster have won their last 13 home games in all competitions, whilst no Welsh team has won on Munster soil since the Blues visited Musgrave Park on 5 October, 2007.

Scarlets have lost their last five encounters against the Irish provinces.

Munster's 22-20 victory at Parc y Scarlets in the Magners League in September made it eight successive wins for the Munstermen over the Llanelli-based side, since Scarlets' 24-15 victory at Stradey Park in the quarter-final of the European Cup in March 2007.

The Scarlets' only previous win on Munster soil was 19-12 at Thomond Park on 12 September, 2003.

Protective covers have been laid at Musgrave Park and heaters are in place ahead of Saturday's pitch inspection.

Munster: P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, J de Villiers, D Hurley; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; W du Preez, D Fogarty, T Buckley; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell capt; A Quinlan, N Ronan, D Wallace.
Replacements: D Varley, S Archer, D Ryan, J Coughlan, PStringer, L Mafi, I Dowling.

Scarlets: Daniel Evans; Lee Williams, Sean Lamont, Jon Davies, Andy Fenby; Rhys Priestland, Martin Roberts; Phil John, Ken Owens, Deacon Manu, Damian Welch, Dominic Day, Rob McCusker, Johnathan Edwards, David Lyons (capt).
Replacements: Jamie Corsi, Emyr Phillips, Lou Reed, Richie Pugh, Gareth Davies, Morgan Stoddart, Gareth Maule.

Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU)

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